PM inaugurates Multan Metro Bus system

MULTAN, Jan 24 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday inaugurated the Metro Bus service in Multan aimed at providing the best and comfortable transport facilities to the local people.
Minutes after unveiling the plaque of Rs 28.88 billion project, the Prime Minister accompanying by Punjab Governor Malik Rafiq Rajwana, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, ministers, MNAs, MPAs and other dignitaries, took a ride of the Metro Bus from Chungi No.9 to Bahauddin Zakariya University, making the service operational for general people.
The event was attended by Minister for National Food Security Sikandar Bosan, Mayor of Multan Naveed ul Haq Arain, Chairman District Council Dewan Abbas Bukhari, parliamentarians, ministers and diplomats.
The Metro Bus Project in Multan is the country’s third and South Punjab’s first mass transit system.
Later, upon reaching Bahauddin Zakariya University (BZU), Commissioner Multan Capt (retd) Asadullah Khan gave a detailed briefing to the Prime Minister.
The Commissioner said that Multan’s Metro route was 18.5 kilometre long, however, its 12.5 kilometre long section was elevated – the longest elevated route in Pakistan.
He said that the modern transportation service equipped with high speed wifi communication system for the commuters would be utilized by 95,000 people per day.
The completion of project took longer than other Metro Bus services, however the time was availed for quality assurance, the commissioner said.
He said the experiences gained from the operation of previous Metro service helped the Metro authorities improve the Multan service further.
He mentioned that double solar panels were installed and special arrangements were made to keep the Metro stations cool during extreme hot weather conditions.
The Commissioner thanked the public for enduring the inconvenience they faced in execution of project.
Mayor Multan Naveedul Haq Arain thanked the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister on completion of the project. He demanded that second phase of metro bus project also be undertaken in Multan and a big hospital be established in the city.
Officials said that a sum of Rs 4.23 billion was spent on land acqusition for the project and 21 Metro stations were set up at its 18.5 kilometres long route.
The Metro Bus Service will add a touch of modernity to ancient Multan – the over 5,000-year-old ‘City of Saints’.
It will create some 2,600 jobs, whereas nearly 50,000 labourers, engineers and other officials took part in the construction of track that was completed in 15 months.
Initially, 35 Metro Buses will operate to enable citizens of Multan and adjoining areas enjoy a comfortable ride against payment of just Rs 20.